By David Meikle (213.122.74.71 - 213.122.74.71) on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 08:06 am:

The Fascinations were an early example of a group gaining a reissue in the UK as a result of demand on the Northern Soul scene.

Their "Girls Are Out To Get You" reached the UK Top 40 in July 1971.

Although the record was from Chicago, The Fascinations were from Detroit.

Fascinating!

By acooolcat (211.78.28.71 - 211.78.28.71) on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 09:39 am:

Yes David - I wonder where Shirley Lawson is now?
I'm still searching.
Graham

By Carl Dixon London (62.31.32.130 - 62.31.32.130) on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 11:52 am:

1' 58" of pure heaven. I have the Mojo released sheet music from 1971, in addition to that great compilation CD with the different takes on. They have probably stopped performing now. I would love too see them. I wonder if they still live in Detroit!

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Monday, August 26, 2002 - 04:48 pm:

At the time the reissued single was in the charts, Record Mirror columnist James Hamilton proudly announced he had a Live tape of the Fascinations, that he recorded at the Apollo. Wonder what happened to it...?

(Come to think of it - whatever happened to James Hamilton?)

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 10:17 am:

Richie,

James Hamilton died about six or seven years
ago - I remember reading that he lived alone
in a small flat with about 100,000 singles piled
up everywhere there was a space.

I remember his singles review column in Record
Mirror with great affection - he'd review
the Delfonics or the Unifics with the opening
sentence "Soul Group Freaks - Red Alert !"
and I'd scribble the name and title down in my
little black book as yet another record to get.
He had great taste - hell, he was the only person
I can remember who recognised what a great
record the Archies' "Who's Your Baby" was.
(shit - there goes my reputation out the
window - still a great record tho'!)

I sort of gave up on Record Mirror in the early seventies but I'd occasionally read his column
when he was reviewing disco records but it
became almost impenetrable when he'd give the
bpm (beats per minute) figures for various
sections of a single - I don't know if it made
much sense to anybody - fast crap is still crap !

I'll away and wash my mouth out ....

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 10:19 am:

Graham,

Wasn't it Shirley Walker who was in the
Fascinations ?

Shirley some mishtake ?

By Ritchie (62.254.0.7 - 62.254.0.7) on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 12:29 pm:

Davie

Thanks for the detail on James Hamilton. I'd kind of guessed he might no longer be with us - I couldn't imagine someone as passionate about the music as he was ever "retiring".

A trawl through my scrapbooks produced the following gem - "Dr Soul" with General Johnson.

By Flynny (213.1.132.212 - 213.1.132.212) on Tuesday, August 27, 2002 - 04:19 pm:

His record collection was sold off in various "lots" of miscellaneous 45's/12"/LPs all in plastic trays/boxes. I went along to the viewing (along with several other Northern Soul dealers - was like an informal meet up!), but there were no real big rarities to be found...maybe due to the people who actually sorted them out into these lots, first?!
One thing I do recall is that 99% of the US 7" 45s had their label's scored by a knife in a "clock-like" pattern...apparently this was done to stop the discs slipping on the turntables in the pre-slip mat days!

By acooolcat (211.72.121.66 - 211.72.121.66) on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 12:31 am:

Davie G -
I think Shirley Walker and Shirley Lawson are the same person. Wasn't there an article on The Fascinations in Soul Survivor magazine? I'll delve around when I get home.
BTW - Isn't it Shirley Walker that I have a photo of?
Graham - slowly going ga-ga in Taiwan.

By Mark Speck (65.56.222.59 - 65.56.222.59) on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 12:41 am:

Soul Survivor did a nice article on the Fascinations--damn if I can find it now in this mess!

Best,

Mark

By David Meikle (213.122.21.84 - 213.122.21.84) on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 03:39 am:

Soul Survivor was a great magazine.

Sadly, I only have three issues.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 07:37 am:

I've found my Michigan Chronicle clipping that plugs Shirley Lawson's 45 "Sad Sad Day" (Enterprise label). It's dated Jan 1965.
It states that it's her first solo 45 and that she was formerly with The Fascinations who had a hit called "Mama Didn't Lie."
Apart from this, and her great uptempo 45 "One More Chance" on Back Beat, did Shirley cut any other discs?
Graham
Davie - It's Shirley Taylor I have a pic of!

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 - 10:09 am:

Graham,

I agree that it looks like Shirley Walker is the
same as Shirley Lawson.

I'll check this more thoroughly later but
it looks as if the group may have temporarily
broken up after the ABC singles with Shirley going solo for a few years then the group
reforms to sign with the Mayfield label.

As far as I know Shirley Lawson only had two releases, one on Enterprise and the other one
picked up by Backbeat (from Enterprise ?)

I'll post the details I have of the Fascinations
and Shirley probably tomorrow

All these Shirley's are confusing enough - it's
the Gloria's that give me headaches :-)

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.78 - 195.219.7.78) on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 04:49 am:

Davie G,Thats right matey,Shirley Lawson-One more Chance-Backbeat(567)and that nice little mover on Enterprise Records(5040)-So Much To Me.MEL.(p.s.)Davie your not a Gordon are you?

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 09:13 am:

Mel,

Yes, G = Gordon

By MEL&THENSOME (195.219.7.73 - 195.219.7.73) on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 10:28 am:

DavieGordon,all fast crap is not all crap.Now I appreciate a vast array of music,as well as rare soul,I regulary put on the likes of good RnB,Give me the clovers,ravens,peppermint harris or a moms mabley whatever,its whatever mood your in at the time.But of course each to there own,but if im on a high or at a club,then blow me away with a good old stomper.Surely you have a few stomping memories.By the way i am opposite to you as i dont collect or listen to any late 70s/80s stuff,though can appreciate them .(within reason)so really im as bad i suppose.MEL(ON HIS SOAPBOX).p.s.saying all this,my top artists would be,Bessie Smith,Esther Phillips,Howling Wolf,and the outstanding BIG MAYBELLE.But only if pushed on it,as you know theres so many outstanding artists to choose from.By the way,I still have my mothers Gordon Kilt,if im up your way,watch out all,as a Bam-Pot may be near you soon.

By Davie G (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Monday, September 02, 2002 - 11:04 am:

Mel,

I think you've misunderstood me - I don't mean I
don't like fast stuff, it all depends on the material. If I wasn't clear enough what I meant was that a bad record is, to me, still a bad
record even if it stomps along. The beat itself
isn't enough for me.

I'll be keeping an eye out for people wearing Gordon kilts, especially if they're moving
faster than me : - )